Brick-machine.



Patented Oct. 23, |900. v W. P. GRATH.

BRICK MAGHINE.`

Iup. 660,138.

No. 660,188. Patented 0st. 23, |900. W. P. GRATH. BRICK MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 20, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Tus cams PETERS co.. Punto-Limo., wAsmNGToN. u. c.

' W. P. GRATH.

BRICK MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 20, 1899.)

-Patented Oct. 23, |900.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. I

IHHI

.7.. l NVM o m M .o W n o m U r O H #I o v k o d -NiTnD I STATESv PATENT FFIC.

WV'ALTER P. GRATH, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BRICK-MACHINE.

s'PncIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. scones, dated october n, 1900.

-Application filed December 20, 1899*. Serial No. 740.967. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER 1J. GRATH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented anew and useful Brick- Machine, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to brick-machines, and has for its objects to simplify the construction, cheapen the cost, and increase the efficiency of the machine.

To these ends my invention consists in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,which form part of this specification and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 isa side elevation of my machine. Fig. 2-is a central longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking to the right in Fig. 1. elevation looking to the left in Fig. 1 and showing only the end portions of the machine.` and Fig. 5 is a detail of the chargeractuating mechanism. l l

My invention comprises a series of molds 1, mounted in the framework 2 and having vertically-movable plungers working through the tops and bottoms of said molds. The upper plungers 3 are preferably mounted on the same shank or 'ram-head 4, which is guided to move vertically. At the upper end of the shank or ram-head a link or links 5 are pivotally fastened thereto, and the link or links 5 are likewise pivotally fastened to the end of a lever 6, journaled horizontally in the framework, wherebysaid link and lever constitute a toggle. Long side rods or bars 7 connect the opposite end of this lever to the shank 8 of the lower plungers 9, theeonnections of said rods being pivotal at each end. A horizontal draw-bar 10 is pivotally secured to the toggle-pin 11or pin which fastens the about eighty degrees. -19 is mounted on the gear-wheel and extends Fig. 4 is an end chine is applied by any suitable mechanism to a driving shaft 14, which carries small gear-wheels 15, which gear-wheels mesh with large gear-wheels 1o', fixed on a shaft 17, journaled in the frame. On the adjacent faces of these large gear-wheels are mounted cams arranged to bear against the respective rollers on the forks of the pulling-lever 12. Each cam consists of two members, the first member 18 extending in a convex curve from near the shaft of the wheels to near the periphery of the gear-wheel and thence curved concentrically with the periphery through an arc of The second member about one hundred vand fifty degrees in a concave curve from the periphery opposite the end of the first member to a point near the center of the Wheel opposite the inner end of the first member. y The space between the two members is sufficient to allow free passage of the roller on the end of the pullinglever 12, and the parts are so proportioned and arranged that the pulling-lever and the toggles are all in vertical position when the roller on the pulling-lever is opposite the inner end of the second member ofthe cam.

For the purpose of making the mechanism reversible it is desirable to continue each member of the cam parallel with the operative surface of the other member, so that there is a continuous channel for the roller.

The operation of the device thus described is as follows: When power is applied to the driving-shaft, its small gear-wheels drive the cam-gears with multiplied power and ini the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. When the convex curve of the firstVv member of a cam bears against its corresponding roller on the pulling-lever, it swings the leverrbackward with a quick movement to ben'd the toggle and raise the upper plunger. The pulling-lever and the parts connected thereto remain in this position while the roller fis passing over the concentric portion of the roo As the cams on the two gear-wheels are of thereon in the path of a cam 32, correspondthe same form and size and mounted in the same position, they cooperate in actuatingthe pulling-lever and have the most important advantage of balancing stresses that would be dangerous To a single cam.

In order to charge the molds automatically, a charging-box 2O is arranged to reciprocate on a horizontal table 21 and below a feedchute. (Not shown.) Links or rods 22, pivotally fastened at o ne end to the chargingbox, are pivotally fastened at their other ends to a swinging arm or arms 23, journaled in the framework to swing in vertical planes and carrying laterally projecting shoulders or rollers 24. Mounted on each of the large gearwheels, so as to move with said wheels, is a cam or cams arranged to bear against the rollers 24 on said swinging arms. This cam consists of two members located with reference to the plunger-driving cam and on the opposite side of the large gear thereto. The first member 25 consists of a large flanged piece extending outwardlyin a convex curve beginning near the same angular position at which the first member of the first cam reaches its outermost position. Thence said curve extends outwardly and backwardly over an angular arc of about twenty-live degrees and thence is continued concentrically with the wheel for a small angle to the radial line at which the second member of the cam begins. This second member 26 starts at a point far enough beyond the first member radially to permit the passage of the roller on the swingingarm. Then it continuesinwardlyin a concave curve extending over an angle of about thirty degrees and terminates nearly in the same radial line with the end of the concentric portion of the first member of the plunger-driving cam. Each of the two members may be continued parallel with the operative edge of the other, so as to form a continuous channel or path.

The operation of the charging mechanism is as follows: When the large gear or gears have turned to the point at which the first member of the plunger-drivin g cam has raised the upper plunger nearly or quite enough to admit the charger below it, the first member of the charger-actuating cam pushes 'the charger quickly forward over the mold, and then the second member quickly withdraws it just as the second member of the plunger-driving cam begins to lower the upper plunger.

In order to eject the molded bricks from the molds, the side bars or rods 7, which pull the lower plun gers, have vertically-elongated slots 27 formed therein, in which the pins or projectionsV 28 of the lower plunger-s rest. These pins or projections extend through the slots in the side bars into bearings 29, arranged in slots provided therefor near the ends of two levers 30, journaled horizontally in the framework. The other end of each lever carries a roller 3l, adj ustably mounted ing thereto and mounted on the shaft of the large gear-wheels outside of the frame. This cam 32 has a convex-curved edge extending outwardly a sufficient radial distance to produce such a throw of the lever as will raise the upper surface of the lower plunger Vflush with the top of the mold. This cam is so located that its inner end is ata point opposite the contact edge of the roller just after the toggle becomes vertical and begins to bend. Thence said cam extends outwardly in a convex curve, covering such an angular distance that the outer end of the curve bears against the roller just after the charger-actuating cam has begun the forward movement of the charger. From the outer end of the curve thus located the cam edge extends concentrically through a small angle, whereby the lower plunger is held in its elevated position for all or the greater portion of the time during which the charger pushes the molded brick therefrom. The two cams thus operate in unison. When the concentric portion of each cam passes its roller, the Weight of the lower plunger depresses the lever and restores the lower plungers to their initial positions.

In order to regulate the amount of clay in the molds, the position of the lower plungers is varied by means of any adjustable backstop or support for the ejecting-lever. A convenient device for this purpose consists in beveled blocks 33, arranged to slide on correspondingly-beveled surfaces of the framework. As shown the drawings, the beveled blocks are arranged opposite each other and are threaded in opposite directions, and said blocks are worked simultaneously by means of a rod 34, threaded to work in said blocks, but fixed longitudinally.

Instead of the ejectiug-levers 30 resting directly upon their adjustable supports an automatically-yielding spring or cushion is ar ranged between each lever and said support in order to permit an initial downward movement of the clay in the mold. The cushion shown in the drawings consists of a spring 35, bearing upwardly against a plate 36, bolted to the lever, and having its other end bearing against the head of a bolt 37, which rests on the adjustable block. The spring resists the weight of the plungers, and the position at which the plungers come to rest is thus determined by the adjustment of the support for the sprin The bearing provided for the plunger-pins in the ejecting-lever is prefer'- IOO IIO

stituting the top and the bottom thereof, a lever pivoted in the frameworkdinks connecting the respective ends of said lever to said plungers, a draw-bar cooperating with said lever and links to constitute a toggle for operating said plungers, a lever or levers fulcrumed in said framework and pivotally connected to said draw-bar, a cam or cams of increasing power for operating said lever and means for actuating said cam or cams, substantially as described.

2. A brick-machine comprising a framework, a mold having movable plungers constituting the top and the bottom thereof, a lever pivoted in the framework,links connecting the respective ends of said lever to said plungers, a draw-bar cooperating with said lever and links to constitute a toggle for operating said plungers, a lever or levers fulcrunied in said framework and pivotally connected to said draw-bar, and cam-gears of increasing power journaled in said framework, said draw-bar being between and actuated by said cam-gears, substantially as described.

3. A brick-machine comprising a framework, a mold having movable plungers constituting the top and the bottom thereof, a lever pivoted in the framewo1'k,links connecting the respective ends of said lever to said plungers, a draw-bar cooperating with said lever and links to constitute a toggle for operating said plungers, a lever or levers fulcrumed in said framework and pivotallyconnected to said draw-bar, and gears journaled in said framework and carrying cams-for ac tuating the draw-bar lever, said cams being on opposite sides of said draw-bar lever and extending inwardlyT to bear against said lever simultaneously with increasing power, substantially as described.

on said plungers, said means being normally out of operative relation to the lower plunger, a lever for supporting said lower plunger, means operated by the driving-gearing to actuate said lever periodically and a yielding backestop for limiting the position of said lever, substantially as described.

5. A press comprising a mold having movable plungers constituting the top and the bottom thereof, means for exerting pressure on said plun gers, a spring-pressed lever or le; vers for yieldingly supporting the lower plunger, a shaft and a cam carried thereby for acL tuating said lever periodically independently of the pressure-exertin g means, substantially as described.

6. A press comprising a mold having movable plungers constituting the top and the bottom thereof, means for exerting pressure on said plungers, a spring-pressed lever or levers for yieldingly supporting the lower plunger, a' shaft, a cam thereon for actuating said lever periodically independently of the pressure-exertin g m eans,said lever having a roller WALTER P. GRATH.

In presence of JOHN B. RENO, JAMES A. CARR. 

